3 simple questions..!!!

[flakpilot]

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Hello Everyone. Trying to pick which med schools i'd like to apply is driving me crazy...They're so many of them! I'm trying to make a list of the pro's and con's besides the gpa and MCAT and other requirements..but I don't seem to know some extra information that would help me select one from another.
For example..are people friendly?, competitive?, both? If you have free time...not that I think I'll have much free time to spend while in med school.. but dreaming that I'll have some free time..is there a lot of places to go in the city, a lot of different things to do for entretainment or there's nothing but I don't know..cows...?... Where can I find this type of information? the "extra" info?...Is there a book maybe that could describe this type of things? describe Med schools..deeply in details?...I bought the "U.S News Ultimate guide to medical schools" but they don't describe each school in many details...If there's nothing like this..what am I supposed to answer when they ask me "why do you want to go to this school?" because I meet your requirements?? lol
On the other hand..I'm going to start shadowing a pediatritian, a plastic surgeon and i'd like to shadow a neurosurgeon and a cardiologist...
Would it seem superficial the fact that I shadowed a plastic surgeon?, Does anyone know a Neurosurgeon in the Miami, ft. lauderdale, pembroke pines, weston area that I could shadow? I've been calling some because I found their numbers online, but either they're not available or they're out of town..etc...
Once again..Thanks a lot!!!! 😀😀😀😀

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Go to Borders or Amazon and pick up a "Guide to Medical Schools." There are a bunch.

For stats and only stats, US News is good.

For the "why this school" question, using their website is good. Use common sense. There is no point in going to Stanford or Harvard if you don't like research. Look at the resources they have, their "mission statement," and what makes them unique from other schools.

 

[qmcat]

Hello Everyone. Trying to pick which med schools i'd like to apply is driving me crazy...They're so many of them! I'm trying to make a list of the pro's and con's besides the gpa and MCAT and other requirements..but I don't seem to know some extra information that would help me select one from another.
For example..are people friendly?, competitive?, both? If you have free time...not that I think I'll have much free time to spend while in med school.. but dreaming that I'll have some free time..is there a lot of places to go in the city, a lot of different things to do for entretainment or there's nothing but I don't know..cows...?... Where can I find this type of information? the "extra" info?...Is there a book maybe that could describe this type of things? describe Med schools..deeply in details?...I bought the "U.S News Ultimate guide to medical schools" but they don't describe each school in many details...If there's nothing like this..what am I supposed to answer when they ask me "why do you want to go to this school?" because I meet your requirements?? lol
On the other hand..I'm going to start shadowing a pediatritian, a plastic surgeon and i'd like to shadow a neurosurgeon and a cardiologist...
Would it seem superficial the fact that I shadowed a plastic surgeon?, Does anyone know a Neurosurgeon in the Miami, ft. lauderdale, pembroke pines, weston area that I could shadow? I've been calling some because I found their numbers online, but either they're not available or they're out of town..etc...
Once again..Thanks a lot!!!! 😀😀😀😀

For that kind of detailed information, you're probably better off asking people who go to that certain school rather than trying to read through a guide book, which tends to give more general info. I think it may be helpful to read through the interview feedback on SDN to see what people's impressions are from their interview day (what impressed you positively, what impressed you negatively, etc). A number of schools will also have viewbooks or brochures of the medical school on their website where they highlight their unique programs and opportunities, which is also very informative.

Also, when you're going through secondaries you can sort of get a feel for what the school is like by the type of questions they ask. For example, you'll know that a school is more clinically and service oriented if they ask questions like "describe an experience you had working with diverse populations" or something like that, and you'll know that a school cares more about research than anything else if they ask questions like "use this space to list your publications" or "our school requires research, how do you feel that this will further your goals".

From my viewpoint, each school has a certain "personality", and they look for certain kinds of applicants who will fit in with that personality, which makes this app process kind of random, so don't feel down if you end up really liking a school and they don't like you back.

 

[shiftingmirage]

For that kind of detailed information, you're probably better off asking people who go to that certain school rather than trying to read through a guide book, which tends to give more general info.

Check out the school specific discussion threads in pre-allo and allo. Current students have posted their opinions about the instituions, and if they haven't, make a post inquiring.

 

[camaras2480]

or there's nothing but I don't know..cows...?...

Beyond Omaha, Nebraska has a lot of cows.